Art Valero rounds out Jim McElwain's Colorado State football staff

Baldwin, Skipper get added duties

In his search to fill out his coaching staff, Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain went back to someone he's worked with in the past.

While out in Las Vegas to watch the men's basketball team play UNLV on Wednesday, McElwain announced the addition of Art Valero to his staff, filling the void vacated when quarterbacks coach Billy Napier left to join Jimbo Fisher's staff at Florida State.

Valero will serve as the tight ends coach, with offensive coordinator David Baldwin taking over the quarterback duties. In a separate move, linebackers coach Tim Skipper had the title of assistant head coach added.

McElwain said the diversity of his staff allowed him to find the best fit overall and not be pigeonholed into finding a new mentor for the quarterbacks.

"One of the things about having a guy like Coach Baldwin who has been in the business -- and he's a quarterback guy by trade -- that allowed us to go get what we felt was the best fit, the best need," McElwain said. "The people who showed interest in this job, I really was just overwhelmed at the quality of those guys, and to get a guy like Arte is unbelievable for us. I just think it speaks volumes for where we're headed. The word on the street out there that Colorado State is a viable place."

McElwain and Valero worked together at Louisville, and from that relationship a dialog started. He said he's also known Tom Ehlers (CSU's director of operations) and Baldwin for years, and has worked with Skipper's father. That familiarity was a major draw for him to take the job.

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"He's got a direction, and it fit in exactly to what I was looking for," Valero said. "It's something he is building, in a great environment with great support -- because you don't get that a lot of places. He's put together a staff, and I felt like if I could be part of that staff -- very outgoing, very friendly, very loyal staff -- with Jim at the helm, it's like the 12 years I spent with John L. (Smith). After awhile, you just have a familiarity with them to where it's like working for your best friend. That part of it really made it appealing."

Valero was out of coaching last season, but brings an extensive resume. He spent 10 years as an NFL assistant after 21 years as a college coach. Most of them were spent coaching offensive linemen, but he's also coached running backs, most recently with Tampa Bay.

McElwain feels Valero's expansive knowledge makes him a great teacher to blend in the blocking and pass receiving duties for Colorado State's tight ends. Valero has no concerns about a return to the college game, saying the only difference between the players is "where they live and what they drive."

Valero has been on the job since Sunday, currently living in McElwain's basement. The Rams start spring drills on March 26, and Valero expects to be fully up to speed with the offense and the players he's coaching by that first practice. He's already had meetings with Baldwin to learn terminology, as well as his two most productive players, Crockett Gillmore and Kivon Cartwright.

"I have watched them, and we just finished the running game, so I watched them and made notes," Valero said. "They came in today and we talked about setting goals for them. Actually, I'm going to give them a card (today) and I want them to give me their objectives between now and the end of spring ball. Then we'll set another set of objectives between the end of spring ball and January, and we'll go back. I'm going to hold them accountable for what they write down."

Napier also carried the title of assistant head coach, one that now goes to Skipper. McElwain said he fits the bill well, having grown up in a coaching family, noting his loyalty and dedication to the program. Without being specific, McElwain said a few on his staff were offered jobs at other programs but elected to stay in Fort Collins.

"He's a guy who can really help take some of those chores that kind of when I get bogged down with some things, and he really knows how to handle it and he's really good with our team," McElwain said of Skipper. "He's a guy that deserves it and has done a heck of a job for us and has been really loyal."

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